Biochemical characterization of the leukotoxins of three bovine strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum

The biochemical characteristics of the leukotoxins of 3 bovine isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum which represent biotypes A, AB, and B were compared. Two methods were used for the production of the leukotoxins: medium M-1 continuous dialysis sac cultures and brain-heart infusion agar plate cultures. The supernatant cultural fluids were fractionated sequentially by membrane-partition chromatography, using ultrafilters with approximate molecular weight (mol wt) exclusion limits of 100,000, 10,000, 2,000, and 500. The ultrafiltrates (less than 500 mol wt) were fractionated by gel-permeation chromatography, using G-10 Sephadex. The leukotoxins of the 3 F necrophorum strains were estimated to have a molecular weight between 350 and 450. The leukotoxins in the ultrafiltrates (less than 500 mol wt) were stable at 60 C for 4 hours and at 100 C for 30 minutes, stable to extremes of pH (3 to 11), and stable to degradative enzymes including trypsin, protease, alpha-amylase, lipase, deoxyribonuclease, and ribonuclease. Significant differences were not observed in the biochemical characteristics of the leukotoxins produced in vitro by the 3 F necrophorum biotypes. These assays were done, using monolayers of mouse peritoneal macrophages. The monolayers were exposed to the 4 ultrafiltrates of both the continuous dialysis sac and brain-heart infusion agar cultures (pH 7.2) for 4 hours at 4 C, 25 C, and 37 C. Maximal cytotoxic activity in the assays was at 37 C.     

Spinal lymphoma in cats: 21 cases (1976-1989).

Medical records of 21 cats with spinal lymphoma were reviewed. All cats were evaluated for neurologic deficits, although 85% of cats necropsied had multicentric disease. Eighty-one percent of cats had hind limb paresis. Results of FeLV tests were positive in 84.2% (16/19) of the cats, and 68.7% (11/16) of the cats had leukemic bone marrow. Spinal lymphoma was confirmed by necropsy in 13 cats, by examination of a biopsy specimen in 1 cat, and by examination of cells aspirated from an epidural lesion in 2 cats. In the remaining 5 cats, a presumptive diagnosis was made on the basis of neurologic examination findings, positive FeLV test results, and leukemic bone marrow. Nine cats were treated with chemotherapy alone. The complete remission rate was 50% in 6 cats given cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone. The median duration of complete remission was 14 weeks. Complete remissions were not observed in 3 cats given only corticosteroids. A single cat treated by laminectomy and postoperative chemotherapy had a prolonged remission (62 weeks). At necropsy, lymphoma of the CNS was limited to the vertebral canal in 10 of 13 cats; 2 cats had malignant tissue in the brain and vertebral canal, and in the remaining cat, the tumor extended into the brachial plexus. Most tumors extended over multiple vertebral bodies, and 4 cats had more than 1 level of spinal cord involvement. The lymphoma was high-grade lymphoblastic or immunoblastic type in all cats.     

Brucella pinnipedialis hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) strain in the mouse model with concurrent exposure to PCB 153

Brucellosis, a worldwide zoonosis, is linked to reproductive problems in primary hosts. A high proportion of Brucella-positive hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) have been detected in the declined Northeast Atlantic stock. High concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have also been discovered in top predators in the Arctic, including the hooded seal, PCB 153 being most abundant. The aim of this study was to assess the pathogenicity of Brucella pinnipedialis hooded seal strain in the mouse model and to evaluate the outcome of Brucella spp. infection after exposure of mice to PCB 153. BALB/c mice were infected with B. pinnipedialis hooded seal strain or Brucella suis 1330, and half from each group was exposed to PCB 153 through the diet. B. pinnipedialis showed a reduced pathogenicity in the mouse model as compared to B. suis 1330. Exposure to PCB 153 affected neither the immunological parameters, nor the outcome of the infection. Altogether this indicates that it is unlikely that B. pinnipedialis contribute to the decline of hooded seals in the Northeast Atlantic.     

Expression of interferon gamma in the brain of cats with natural Borna disease virus infection

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic, negative-stranded RNA virus, which causes a non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis in a wide range of animals. In cats, BDV infection leads to staggering disease. In spite of a vigorous immune response the virus persists in the central nervous system (CNS) in both experimentally and naturally infected animals. Since the CNS is vulnerable to cytotoxic effects mediated via NK-cells and cytotoxic T-cells, other non-cytolytic mechanisms such as the interferon (IFN) system is favourable for viral clearance. In this study, IFN-γ expression in the brain of cats with clinical signs of staggering disease (N=12) was compared to the expression in cats with no signs of this disease (N=7) by quantitative RT-PCR. The IFN-γ expression was normalised against the expression of three reference genes (HPRT, RPS7, YWHAZ). Cats with staggering disease had significantly higher expression of IFN-γ compared to the control cats (p-value ≤ 0.001). There was no significant difference of the IFN-γ expression in BDV-positive (N=7) and -negative (N=5) cats having clinical signs of staggering disease. However, as BDV-RNA still could be detected, despite an intense IFN-γ expression, BDV needs to have mechanisms to evade this antiviral immune response of the host, to be able to persist.     

Preparation and comparative release characteristics of three anthocyanin encapsulation systems

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and their major polyphenolic constituents, anthocyanins, have preventive activities inter alia against colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, anthocyanins are sensitive to environmental conditions; thus their bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract is an important determinant of their in vivo activity. In the study reported here, the potential benefits of encapsulating an anthocyanin rich bilberry extract (BE) on anthocyanin stability were investigated. Nonencapsulated BE and three different BE loaded microcapsule systems were incubated in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and fed state simulated intestinal fluid (FeSSIF). After exposure to these media, released anthocyanins were identified and quantified by HPLC with UV/Vis detection. Although a rapid release of anthocyanins was observed within the first 20 min, encapsulation of anthocyanins doubled the amount of available anthocyanins after 150 min of incubation. These results illustrate the ability of encapsulation to inhibit early degradation of anthocyanins in the intestinal system.     

Variation between and within Populations of Mink: II. Skin and Fur Characteristics

Abstract

Genetic and environmental sources of variation in skin and fur characteristics were estimated within and between populations in a two year mink progeny testing scheme with approximately 200 paternal progeny groups. Animals from several populations were housed at a central test station, and corresponding full-sibs were kept at the farm of origin. Data were analysed with an animal model to estimate heritabilities, common litter effects and fixed effects due to population and environment. Genetic variation within and between populations was found, together with significant environmental effects, indicating potential improvements in the breeding scheme. An interaction of sex with population and environment was considered and found significant for traits with a large sex dimorphism. Common litter effects were unimportant for traits measured, except for length and weight of skin. Discrete, subjectively measured traits are analysed with a linear model and a threshold model.     

Current and future regenerative medicine — Principles, concepts, and therapeutic use of stem cell therapy and tissue engineering in equine medicine

This paper provides a bird’s-eye perspective of the general principles of stem-cell therapy and tissue engineering; it relates comparative knowledge in this area to the current and future status of equine regenerative medicine.